Understanding the Impact of Fire Damage on Pets in Guelph

8/21/2023 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of Guelph, our love for pets mirrors your own. We recognize that the devastating effects of a house fire can extend to our cherished animal companions. With this in mind, we offer crucial insights to help protect your pets:

• Incorporate Your Pets into Fire Escape Plans: When devising your fire escape strategy, remember to include your pets. Regular practice drills ensure that everyone is prepared, including your furry family members.
• Safeguard Pets from Outdoor Fires: When fires loom outdoors, bring your pets inside. By doing so, you'll be primed to evacuate with your beloved animals in the event of an emergency.
• Know Their Hiding Spots: In crisis situations, time is of the essence. Familiarize yourself with your pets' hiding spots to swiftly ensure their safety during an evacuation.
• Utilize Pet Stickers: Display pet stickers on windows and doors. These stickers provide firefighters with vital information about the number and types of pets in your home.
• Assemble Pet Evacuation Kits: Prepare comprehensive evacuation kits for your pets. These kits, often contained in large plastic bins, should hold copies of vet records, extra leashes, collars, beloved toys, and sustenance.

In case of an emergency, remember to contact the fire department once you and your pets have safely exited your home. For expert assistance in restoring fire damage, don't hesitate to reach out to SERVPRO of Guelph at 519-837-8787.

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/TakeAction/Household-pets

Fire Damage Can Happen...

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Damage to a bedroom in Guelph

Smoke and soot are very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odour. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.

The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Guelph will determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odour. 

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odour, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage? Call SERVPRO of Guelph (519) 837-8787

Fire Pit Safety Tips!

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Guelph Fire Pit Safety Tips

This time of year is one of the best because it is time to break out the fire pits. We know it's great to be around the backyard during the warmer months. Burgers on the grill, drinks in hand, and some background music is a sure way to have everyone in a good mood. Here is some quick and simple fire pit safety tips to keep the fire bright and the mood light:

1. Clear all flammable materials away from your fire pit. Make sure it’s kept 10 feet away from the home or building. 
2. Pile dirt or rocks to keep the fire on the ground from escaping 
3. Before lighting your fire, check the wind direction. If it’s too windy, do not light your fire pit as the wind can cause the flames to travel.
4. Contrary to popular belief, lighting fluid is not safe for lighting a fire pit. Use a commercial fire starter kick with kindling on top. 
5. Once the fire pit is lit, never leave it unattended and never leave children or pets near the fire pit without adult supervision.
6. Avoid  softwoods like pine or cedar to prevent flying sparks and flame “pops”, 
7. Only put enough fuel to keep the fire burning gently to prevent flare-ups and uncontrollable flames. 
8. To extinguish the flames, use water to drown out the fire and stir it with a shovel to make sure it’s fully extinguished. Use the shovel to extinguish any escaped flames as well
9. Dispose of the ashes in a metal can use only for fire pit ash storage. Careful, even after a few days the ashes are still hot enough to cause a fire. 
10. Accidents happen, even with the correct preventative measures taken. Having a fire extinguisher nearby can greatly reduce the risk of the fire getting out of control. 

How Our Experts Handel Fire Damage In Your Home or Business

1/24/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Guelph working to make it "Like it never even happened."

The flames from a fire of any size can create dangerous conditions in your house quickly by damaging furniture, cabinets, countertops, tiles, and appliances in minutes. After extinguishing a fire successfully, the amount of destruction left to handle can be overwhelming. Therefore, it is vital to use fire restoration services to return your property to its pre-fire damage condition.

After a fire damages your property, soot and smoke can travel and penetrate other rooms, ruining carpeting, paint, upholstery, clothing, draperies, and other belongings. Ventilating your house is a vital first step to cleaning up after a fire. You can start the remediation process by taking the following steps:

• Wear gloves like household dishwashing gloves, pants, and long-sleeved shirts before cleaning up the surfaces with soot and smoke residues to avoid skin contact.
• Wear personal protective gear like a dust mask to avoid breathing in airborne particles such as ash.
• Ventilate your property by opening the windows and doors to eliminate odor and smoke.
• Dispose of burned debris to eliminate scents.
• Use cooking oil to wipe metallic finishes preventing staining and rusting.

You should also not hesitate to seek help from SERVPRO of Guelph professionals. Our restoration team has expansive training in dealing with fire damage. We understand that the destruction may be more severe than it appears and we know where to check to prevent the need for future restoration services.

Our Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technicians (FSRT) can arrive at your house within an hour of receiving your call and assess the damage. This allows us to determine the fire restoration services required and then work diligently to restore your property. We have the tools and equipment needed to remove soot and smoke from your property. Smoke and soot can cause stains and discoloration on walls and ceilings. The acidic residues in soot can ruin the interior of your property and countless belongings if you do not eliminate them it rapidly.

Our technicians can loosen smoke residues from different surfaces using mild, moderate, or heavy agitation. For mild agitation, we can use brushes, vacuums, feather dusters, or compressed air. For moderate agitation, we can use dusting cloths, dry cleaning sponges, or cleaning towels. If your house has a significant amount of smoke residues, our crew can remove them using tools that produce heavy amounts of agitation like Roto pads and brushes, sandpapers and steel wool, and blasting equipment that blasts some type of media against the soiled surfaces.

Your property could also have water damage because of burst pipes or the water that firefighters used to stifle the flames. Our SERVPRO technicians can extract the water using shop vacs and dry the affected areas using air moving and dehumidification equipment.

When a fire happens in your home, call the team of highly trained technicians at SERVPRO of Guelph for fire restoration services. You can reach us at (519) 837-8787. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Using A Fire Extinguisher 101...

1/24/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Safety with SERVPRO Guelph

Hopefully, we all have easy access to a fire extinguisher in our home or place of business. The question is, do you know how to use one and on what types of fires?  

A fire-extinguisher can certainly be very helpful in preventing fire and smoke damage from spreading throughout your home or office in the City and County of Wellington.  If the worst happens, remember that SERVPRO of Guelph has caring experts to help you in cleaning up damage left from a fire.

If you have any doubts or concerns at all, leave the premises and call 911 once you are outside.

SERVPRO of Guelph wants you to know that you can try to fight a small fire only if and only if:

• You have the right class of fire extinguisher
• You know how to use the fire extinguisher
• You can get to the fire extinguisher quickly. Fire is fast. Fire damage and smoke damage are less painful than injuries to you or others.

Types of Portable Fire Extinguishers 

• Class A fire extinguishers should be used to put out fires involving cardboard, paper, wood, dried vegetation. 
• Class B fire extinguishers should be used to put out fires involving flammable and combustible liquids, such as gasoline, diesel, oil, and oil-based paints, and many solvents. 
• Class C fire extinguishers are suitable for use to extinguish fires that involve appliances, tools, or other equipment that is plugged in or otherwise electrically energized, as well as for fires burning in close proximity to electrically-energized equipment. 
• Class D fire extinguishers are designed for use to extinguish combustible metals, such as magnesium or sodium, and are often designed for the specific type of combustible metal. This does NOT include ordinary carbon steel, only metals that will burn when ignited. 
• Class K fire extinguishers are designed to be used for putting out fires that involve oils and greases used for cooking in kitchens, such as vegetable and animal-based oils and fat.

Fire Damage Happens

12/22/2021 (Permalink)

Fire Cleanup Professionals

When Fire Damage Happens.

Fire and smoke damage is especially destructive. In many instances, your property will also suffer from water damage from firefighting efforts. SERVPRO® of Guelph specialize in both fire and water damage restoration; it’s the cornerstone of our business. SERVPRO®of Guelph has specialized equipment, specific training, and certifications that allow us to restore your home to pre-fire condition and make it "Like it never even happened."

We understand you may be feeling confused, stressed, and more than a little vulnerable. Our technicians will treat your family with empathy and your home with great care. Our main goal is to help your family, property, and/or business as fast and efficiently as possible.

We’re Fire and Water Damage Specialists

There is no substitute for training and experience. As fire and water damage specialists, our business is built upon fire and water restoration expertise. We have the knowledge and the specialized equipment to get your property back to pre-fire condition. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at the SERVPRO® Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC industry certifications, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster 

SERVPRO® of Guelph is dedicated to responding immediately to your Guelph, Wellington County or Water County area fire damage emergency. A faster response is the key to help prevent additional damage and reduce the restoration cost. In many cleaning and restoration situations, immediate action is needed, SERVPRO® is strategically positioned to be faster to any size emergency. An immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs. Water is particularly invasive, quickly spreading throughout your property and being absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, etc. SERVPRO® of Guelph arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. When various materials burn, the soot and residue they create differs greatly and requires a specific cleaning procedure.

Need Emergency Services for Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage? Call SERVPRO® of Guelph 24/7 – (519) 837 8787

Fire Restoration Services

11/5/2021 (Permalink)

Restoration Professionals

Fire Restoration Services

SERVPRO® of Guelph understands Fire Damage. Smoke, soot, debris, water damage and odours that result can be very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home. Our fire damage expertise and experience allow us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

The resulting damage from a fire loss is a challenging time for any home or business owner. The priority for most people delaing with a fire loss is saving possessions that have been collected over a lifetime. SERVPRO® of Guelph understands the trauma that follows a fire life. When fire damage takes control of your life, we help you take it back.

SERVPRO® of Guelph provides quality restoration services to the contents within your home or business, mitigate, clean and restore your structure. If required we will pack and move all your contents to be cleaned and processed at our climate controlled, secure facility in Guelph. Restoring your furniture, clothing, artwork, electronics, and all other contents within the home or business. SERVPRO® of Guelph will store your contents in our secured lockers built on site inside of processing area.

Our experts will restore your home and business to preloss condition. Whether it be cleaning, painting, flooring, trim, cabinets, flooring, windows, doors, plumbing, HVAC, electrical and roofs SERVPRO® of Guelph will work hard to ensure the fire damages are completely dealt with and your space has been returned to what is once was.

No disaster is small when it is yours!

Our Experienced Fire Damage Experts are available 24/7/365 by calling SERVPRO® of Guelph at (519) 837-8787

Call SERVPRO of Guelph for Fire Restoration and Repair!

8/16/2021 (Permalink)

Fire Damage? Call Us.. (519) 837-8787

Commercial fire damage repair may not be something you think you will ever need for your business, but the unfortunate reality is some businesses will experience a fire damaging event. Fires can be caused by an electrical shortage from overloading an extension cord to a lightning strike. Especially common are cooking accidents in restaurants. As soon as the flames are extinguished by firefighters, you may begin to worry what steps are required to resume business as usual. The best advice is to be prepared for this possible event and have a plan.

The Damage Caused by a Fire 
When you experience commercial fire damage to your business, you may reflect on the mess left behind in the charred ruins of the property. However, the damage you need to contend with will go far beyond the ashes. To repair the property entirely after experiencing a damaging fire, you will need to seek the help of a professional team like SERVPRO. Water may have to be extracted after the firefighters' efforts. The smoke damage may cause more of a problem that the burnt materials from the fire. While a fire may be contained in one area of the building, smoke can fill most or all of the areas, and it can cause significant damage and odours. Our trained Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technicians (FSRT) can resolve these issues. When smoke and water damage are dealt with appropriately, the structure will not show any aftereffects. "Like it never even happened."

A fire loss within your enterprise, whether a retail store, rental apartment building, professional office, or a warehouse, costs you customer goodwill and loss of profitability when business cannot be conducted. We can generate a corporate program called the Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS.) This report will categorize all affected materials, furniture and equipment, stock, electronics, and documents. We suggest what is salvageable, non-salvageable, or questionable. The final decision rests with you and your insurance company as to how we proceed. SERVPRO is a preferred commercial fire damage restoration company to more than 300 insurance companies, federal and municipal entities, and property management companies. We willingly coordinate efforts with your insurance adjuster to efficiently and economically restore your business in the best manner possible.

When to Make the Call 
After you have dealt with fire damage, you may ask yourself when do you need to make the call to a professional for assistance. The time to contact SERVPRO of Guelph as soon as the fire is out. Our business is to get you back in business! Rely on us, 24/7 for an immediate response, by calling 

(519)837-8787

Fire Pit Safety Tips!

5/18/2021 (Permalink)

Fire Pit Tips and Tricks from SERVPRO of Guelph

This time of year is one of the best because it is time to break out the fire pits. We know it's great to be around the backyard during the warmer months. Burgers on the grill, drinks in hand, and some background music is a sure way to have everyone in a good mood. Here is some quick and simple fire pit safety tips to keep the fire bright and the mood light:

1. Clear all flammable materials away from your fire pit. Make sure it’s kept 10 feet away from the home or building. 
2. Pile dirt or rocks to keep the fire on the ground from escaping 
3. Before lighting your fire, check the wind direction. If it’s too windy, do not light your fire pit as the wind can cause the flames to travel.
4. Contrary to popular belief, lighting fluid is not safe for lighting a fire pit. Use a commercial fire starter kick with kindling on top. 
5. Once the fire pit is lit, never leave it unattended and never leave children or pets near the fire pit without adult supervision.
6. Avoid  softwoods like pine or cedar to prevent flying sparks and flame “pops”, 
7. Only put enough fuel to keep the fire burning gently to prevent flare-ups and uncontrollable flames. 
8. To extinguish the flames, use water to drown out the fire and stir it with a shovel to make sure it’s fully extinguished. Use the shovel to extinguish any escaped flames as well
9. Dispose of the ashes in a metal can use only for fire pit ash storage. Careful, even after a few days the ashes are still hot enough to cause a fire. 
10. Accidents happen, even with the correct preventative measures taken. Having a fire extinguisher nearby can greatly reduce the risk of the fire getting out of control. 

Holiday Fire Safety

12/14/2020 (Permalink)

Stay Safe This Holiday Season!

It’s that time of year where we are all full of Christmas cheer! Even though the holidays are a bit different this year, safety is still a must. Christmas decorations are what help make the season bright, but they also present fire risks that can turn into a holiday disaster.

Here are holiday fire facts by the National Fire Prevention Association:

• Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in almost half of home Christmas tree fires.
• More than two of every five (42%) home Christmas tree fires started in the living room. Five percent were chimney or flue fires. One-fifth (21%) of the decoration fires started in the kitchen. Sixteen percent started in the living room, family room or den.
• Half (51%) of December home decoration fires were started by candles, compared to one-third (32%) in January to November.
• Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in almost half (45%) of home Christmas tree fires.
• More than one-fifth (22%) of the Christmas tree fires, some type of heat source, such as a candle or equipment, was too close to the tree.

SERVPRO Holiday Safety Tips:

• Check wiring on lights for breaks and wear. Replace worn strings and don’t exceed manufacturer guidelines for connecting multiple strands of lights. Don’t leave tree lights plugged in when you are away from home or when you go to bed.
• Keep live trees well-watered to reduce the chance of a fire.
• Use flameless candles. If you do use traditional candles, burn them in sturdy candleholders, well away from drapes and other flammable materials, and never leave them unattended or allow them to burn down to less than one inch in length.
• Keep all decorations away from heat sources like radiators, portable heaters, fireplaces, etc.

It only takes a moment’s distraction or carelessness to turn a holiday celebration into a catastrophe. We hope these tips will be a reminder to families everywhere to make fire prevention a priority in their holiday preparations, so they can spend the season enjoying family and friends, not dealing with the aftermath of a fire.

We Are the Fire, Smoke and Soot Experts!

12/1/2020 (Permalink)

Very invasive, smoke and soot are able to penetrate various areas within your home causing hidden damage and odor.  Using our smoke damage, we will inspect and assess the extent of the damage to develop a plan of action.  

Smoke and Soot Facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around pipes, seeping through the holes used by the pipes to travel from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.  Did you know that there are different types of smoke?

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry.  Which means, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Guelph will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is unique, each one requires a tailored solution.  Rest assured, not only do we have the equipment, specific knowledge and know-how to restore your fire and smoke damage, our technicians are empathetic, respectful and will treat your space with care.

Do you need Help Dealing with Fire, Smoke or Soot Damage?

Call SERVPRO of Guelph Today –

(519) 837-8787

When Fire Damage Happens

10/8/2019 (Permalink)

When Fire Damage Happens

When Fire Damage Happens.

Fire and smoke damage is especially destructive. In many instances, your property will also suffer from water damage from firefighting efforts. SERVPRO® of Guelph specialize in both fire and water damage restoration; it’s the cornerstone of our business. SERVPRO® of Guelph has specialized equipment, specific training, and certifications that allow us to restore your home to pre-fire condition and make it "Like it never even happened."

We understand you may be feeling confused, stressed, and more than a little vulnerable. Our technicians will treat your family with empathy and your home with great care. Our main goal is to help your family, property, and/or business as fast and efficiently as possible.

We’re Fire and Water Damage Specialists

There is no substitute for training and experience. As fire and water damage specialists, our business is built upon fire and water restoration expertise. We have the knowledge and the specialized equipment to get your property back to pre-fire condition. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at the SERVPRO® Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC industry certifications, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster 

SERVPRO® of Guelph is dedicated to responding immediately to your Guelph, Wellington County or Water County area fire damage emergency. A faster response is the key to help prevent additional damage and reduce the restoration cost. In many cleaning and restoration situations, immediate action is needed, SERVPRO® is strategically positioned to be faster to any size emergency. An immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs. Water is particularly invasive, quickly spreading throughout your property and being absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, etc. SERVPRO® of Guelph arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. When various materials burn, the soot and residue they create differs greatly and requires a specific cleaning procedure.

Need Emergency Services for Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage? Call SERVPRO® of Guelph 24/7 – (519) 837 8787